(Sacramento) The dozen Kids Connected to Transplants are all too familiar with life’s obstacles, so they’ll no doubt tear up the courts as they run a skills and drills NBA obstacle course at Sleep Train Arena, on their “Lucky” Friday the 13th at 6:15 p.m., just prior to the Kings taking on the Brooklyn Nets at 7:00 p.m. The exhibition pre-game kid’s obstacle course will be run by children aged 4 – 14, all with some sort of connection to transplantation/donation. Their coach on the court will be Kings Vice President Phillip Horn, who donated a kidney to his wife, Danea, two years ago.

Six-year-old liver recipient, Luca Salcone, of Folsom, is gearing up for his obstacle course debut. His parents say he’s had plenty of preparation for such making short shrift of obstacles.

“Luca taught us about endurance,” says his mother, Katie Salcone. “When he was just a year and a half old, he came within hours of death. In fact, the doctors told us he would only last through the weekend, so we had to stay with him by his bedside. Then, because another family, in their darkest hour made the decision to give light and life to someone else, Luca received a life-saving liver transplant.”

Seventeen-year-old Kimberly Burnett knows firsthand about the life-affirming power of donation, as her brother, 22-year-old Brandon became a donor at UC Davis Medical Center in June 2013, following a fatal car crash. She will be helping on the court that night, to coach her brother’s young liver/kidney recipient, four-year-old Matthew Oimet, who is alive today because of Brandon’s heroic act.

Kings fans will be encouraged to sign up to give life through the DMV when getting a license, or online at: www.donateLIFEcalifornia.org,

TICKETS MAYBE PURCHASED AT:

http://kingsgrouptickets.com/DonateLife

About Sierra Donor Services

Sierra Donor Services (SDS) is a nonprofit agency dedicated to meeting the needs of the community by providing families the option of organ and tissue donation for transplantation and research. SDS serves Inland Northern California and Northern Nevada. As a division of the DCI Donor Services, Inc. family, SDS is one of four locations that includes: DCI Donor Services Tissue Bank, Tennessee Donor Services and New Mexico Donor Services. For more information, visit: sierradonor.org.